Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 officials took offense at comments made by the New York-based Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund indicating that the school officials refused to enter into mediation for a dispute.

D-8 said it turned down mediation because the family of a transgender child at the heart of the dispute shunned a meeting with district officials.

The transgender defense organization had filed a state civil rights complaint on behalf of Kathryn and Jeremy Mathis of Fountain, parents of 6-year-old Coy Mathis. The girl is being home-schooled this semester because she has been denied access to the girls' bathroom at Eagleside Elementary School. Coy was born a boy, but since around 18 months of age has thought of herself as a girl, her parents said.

The district also stated Friday that they will file a response to the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. They have until March 17 to do so.